STUDENTS FROM CLAY COUNTY RECEIVE PRESTIGIOUS DESIGNATION

Washington, Jan 12, 2009 - U.S. Representative Cliff Stearns (FL-06) today announced three principal nominees for our nation’s military service academies. Stearns placed phone calls to the three students from his office in Ocala to inform each that he was submitting their names as his nominees to attend the academies. Each academy requires a nomination by the student’s Member of Congress.

“One of the most pleasurable tasks I have as a Member of Congress and one I look forward to every year is the opportunity to nominate outstanding young men and women to the service academy of their choice,” Stearns said about nominating students from the Sixth District. Stearns continued, “An education from a military service academy is one of the finest in the world -- for example, the class that graduated from West Point in 2000 had 4 Rhodes Scholars; the class that graduated in May 2005 from the Naval Academy had 3 Rhodes Scholars and the class graduating in May 2006 has 4 Rhodes Scholars (1/8th of the 32 Rhodes Scholars selected in 2006).”

Further information about seeking nominations to the service academies can be found at Stearns’ website: www.house.gov/stearns.

In addition to the three nominees listed below, Stearns will also be naming additional nominees who may also receive appointments later in the year.

Congressman Cliff Stearns’ military service academy nominees:

James Bloch of Fleming Island, Fleming Island High School -- U.S. Air Force Academy
Kurt Musser of Orange Park, Fleming Island High School -- U.S. Military Academy
Kiley Ana Switanek of Orange Park, Fleming Island High School -- U.S. Naval Academy